18 JULY 27, 2017 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Work on Calamus
Avenue sewer
project kicks into a
higher gear
BY ANTHONY GIUDICE
AGIUDICE@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
@A_GIUDICEREPORT
Photo courtesy of NYC Department of
Design and Construction
Three projects were scheduled
for this week for the Calamus
Avenue sewer project.
Aft er City Comptroller Scott
Stringer said the Calamus
Avenue sewer project left
Maspeth looking “like a war zone,”
the NYC Department of Design and
Construction (DDC) had a busy
schedule lined up for this week.
Starting on Monday, July 24, DDC
kicked off a trio of improvements
that will last until Friday, July 28.
The fi rst job will involve the
excavation, placing and backfi lling
of a box sewer on Calamus
Avenue between 72nd Place and
74th Street.
Crews will also install sewer
manholes and catch basins on
Calamus Avenue between 70th
Street and 74th Street.
Finally, DDC will being mobilizing
material on 69th Street between
48th Avenue and Maurice Avenue.
All work is expected to take place
between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
during the week. However, due to
unforeseen weather and field conditions,
the work schedule, times, dates
or operations may need to change.
If there will be any interruptions
to water service, DDC will
post signs at least 24 hours in
advance of any shutdown; the
agency will also distribute material
in the aff ected areas.
No parking signs will be posted
72 hours prior to any temporary
elimination of parking and driveway
access in the aff ected areas.
For any further information,
reach out to the project’s Community
Construction Liaison, Bita Mehrpour,
at 718-424-1058 or through
email at SE814CCL@gmail.com.
Maspeth residents should be paid for sewer damages: Stringer
BY ANTHONY GIUDICE
AGIUDICE@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
@A_GIUDICEREPORT
Following his tour of an area
of Maspeth suffering under
the Calamus Avenue sewer
project, City Comptroller Scott
Stringer wants the NYC Department
of Design and Construction (DDC) to
meet with him to resolve the myriad
issues plaguing residents near the
construction site.
During his tour — which was
requested by Assemblyman Brian
Barnwell and Councilwoman Elizabeth
Crowley — Stringer met with
residents who pointed out damages
to their sidewalks, the outside and
inside of their homes, and other
construction-related problems,
prompting him to say the neighborhood
looked “like a war zone.”
“When I visited, I met seniors who
told me their property was ripped
up and discarded without notice. I
spoke with families who were deeply
fearful about the stability of their
house foundations,” Stringer said in
a statement. “Residents reported that
the project created leaks, cracks and
damage in numerous homes. The
work site looked like absolute chaos
in a residential community — and it
must be remedied as soon as possible.”
Following his tour, Stringer wrote
a letter to the DDC acting commissioner
Ana Barrio, outlining the
complaints of the community.
Stringer added in the letter, residents
were told by DDC to only fi le their
claims with the comptroller’s offi ce,
even though the contract for the work
includes an indemnifi cation clause.
Comptroller Scott Stringer wants to make sure that residents are repaid
for damages suff ered during the Calamus Avenue sewer project.
“Residents should fi le claims here
to preserve their rights, but as you
know, my offi ce cannot adjust these
claims given the contract provisions
that favor the city,” Stringer
wrote. “This will only add to residents’
understandable frustration
and feelings of being ignored by
the city.”
Since Stringer’s visit, DDC has
agreed to post more information
about parking and water shutdowns
in advance and engage better with
the community.
According to Stringer, his offi ce
plays no role in claims for property
damage as a result of this project
Photo courtesy of Comptroller Stringer's offi ce
because the third-party vendor
— CAC Industries — is insured.
Stringer encourages all residents to
document damage, as well as write
and call the company for repairs,
and reach out to DDC’s Community
Construction Liaison, Bita Mehrpour,
at 718-424-1058 or through email at
SE814CCL@gmail.com.
“We’re going to keep demanding accountability,
and we’re going to keep
holding DDC’s and the company’s
feet to the fi re,” Stringer said. “This
community deserves better. Every
person with a legitimate claim, no
matter how big or small, deserves to
be made whole.”
Glendale celebrates opening of Myrtle-Cooper plaza
Community leaders, local elected
officials and government
offi cials gathered at the newly
fi nished pedestrian plaza at the intersection
of Myrtle and Cooper avenues
in Glendale on July 19 to celebrate the
opening of the plaza with a ribbon-cutting
ceremony.
The $3.4 million project closed off two
small streets at both sides of the bow-tie
shaped intersection at Myrtle and Cooper
avenues which adds 5,300 square feet
of new pedestrian space while realigning
several streets to help calm traffi c in the
area and increasing safety under Mayor
Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero plan.
Joining DOT Queens Borough
Commissioner Nicole Garcia at the
ribbon-cutting ceremony was NYC
Department of Design and Construction
(DDC) Acting Commissioner Ana
Barrio, Councilwoman Elizabeth
Crowley, Assemblyman Mike Miller,
Executive Director of the Myrtle
Avenue Business Improvement District
Ted Renz, Community Board 5
Chairperson Vincent Arcuri, and
other leaders in the community.
“I’m thrilled to fi nally cut the ribbon
on this plaza,” Crowley said. “It was a
long road for many local businesses and
residents during construction, but now
complete, this space will breathe new life
onto Myrtle Avenue, a commercial corridor
that our local economy depends on.”
Photo courtesy of NYCDDC
Glendale celebrates the opening of the fi nished Myrtle-Cooper Plaza.
